Therapists for college students near University of Chicago

I earned my **Master’s degree in Counseling from Freed-Hardeman University in 2008** and became a **National Certified Counselor (NCC #247220) in 2016**. I have been a **Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois (LCPC #180.011277) since 2017**. With more than **14 years of counseling experience**, I have worked with adolescents, college students, and adults facing a wide range of mental health and life challenges. I specialize in helping individuals manage **anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma/PTSD, substance use concerns, stress, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions**. I understand that the college years can bring unique pressures—academic stress, uncertainty about the future, balancing relationships, adjusting to independence, identity exploration, and feeling overwhelmed by expectations. My goal is to provide a supportive space where students can build confidence, strengthen coping skills, and develop practical strategies to succeed both personally and academically. My background includes work in **outpatient, residential, in-home, rehabilitation, foster-care, correctional, and telehealth settings**. I have experience providing **individual, group, and family therapy**, with a strong focus on helping clients improve emotional regulation, executive functioning, stress management, communication skills, decision-making, and healthy relationship patterns. I take a **collaborative, nonjudgmental, and strengths-based approach** to therapy. Together, we will identify your goals and create a treatment plan that fits your needs and values. I want clients to feel safe, heard, and respected throughout the counseling process. My therapeutic approach is tailored to each individual and may include evidence-based methods such as: * **Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)** * **Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)** * **Mindfulness-Based Interventions** * **Solution-Focused Therapy** * **Motivational Interviewing** * **Attachment-Based Therapy** * **Behavioral Activation** * **Person-Centered Therapy** * **Positive Psychology** To help students get the most out of therapy, I often provide **practical exercises, skill-building activities, and between-session strategies** that can be applied in daily life, academics, and relationships. Seeking support is a sign of strength, and I would be honored to work with you as you navigate the challenges and opportunities of your college experience.

Your path to a calmer, happier life starts here. I am ready to support you at your own pace, providing flexible appointments and personalized care. Whether you are an individual seeking personal growth, a couple looking to strengthen your connection, or a family aiming to foster harmony, I am here to help. Let’s work together to address anxiety, depression, and stress, creating a healthier path forward for yourself, your relationships, and your family.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with over 12 years of experience. I provide an atmosphere of trust and comfort where clients feel at ease. My style of therapy is engaging, warm and goal-oriented. Others have described me as authentic, genuine, non-judgmental and empathic. I work with adolescents and adults who are struggling with a range of issues such as anxiety, depression, school/work related challenges, family conflict, relationship issues, life transition issues and parenting difficulties. I believe there is no “one size fits all” form of treatment. I work collaboratively with my clients to help them find the necessary tools to grow, develop, and achieve their goals. I am skilled in a variety of interventions including the evidenced based approaches of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I draw from these approaches, depending on my client’s goals and what I deem will be most effective. I received my Masters in Clinical Counseling at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. I practiced and trained in Chicago for 9 years before moving to Indiana. Prior to starting my private practice, I worked in various settings including psychiatric hospitals, partial hospitalization programming, intensive outpatient programming, within a group practice and a community mental health center.

Navigating OCD, anxiety, relationships, and life transitions can be emotionally and physically draining. There is little more frustrating than thinking and behaving in the same ways despite knowing they contribute to these issues and other debilitating symptoms. Therapy is a place to safely explore the thoughts, behaviors, and relationships that are interfering with living a more fulfilling and rewarding life. I am a trained OCD specialist and an active member of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). I have extensive experience working with college undergrad and graduate students from my time as a counselor at the University of Colorado, Boulder and at Bryant University. Working directly on a college campus has provided me with a unique understanding of the intersection between academics and mental health, as well as how to navigate many campus systems best. Currently, in my private practice, I work with college students from the many different colleges in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Colorado. The majority of clients that I work with are navigating Anxiety or OCD and Related Disorders. My clinical approach to therapy is grounded in ERP, ACT, and CBT. I believe therapy is built around compassion, respect, and trust. I look forward to connecting with you and exploring how we can collaboratively achieve your treatment goals. Send me an email, give me a call, or visit my website (www.smithlicsw.com) to set up an appointment. If you are struggling and are tired of trying to handle things alone, please do not hesitate to get in touch. * I provide telehealth services to clients in Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Illinois, Vermont, and Colorado.*

We aim to provide the best possible telepsychiatric care (therapy and medication management) for our patients, wherever they are. We know that self-care is a journey, and the first step towards a fulfilling life begins with recognizing a need to get help. With the advancements in technology, we are able to provide care that is the most convenient for you. That is what makes our mission possible. We strive everyday to ensure that our patients are able to live their best lives.

Thank you for taking the time to read my profile. I have had the privilege over the past 30 years to work with incredible people who have experienced trauma, anxiety, family and relationship conflict, and other difficulties. Together, we've found their resilience and healing. Our time together is about you. You know yourself best and we will pair that with 30+ years of my professional and personal experience, to help you achieve what you want from therapy - more joy, more peace, better communication, etc. I will work with you in a compassionate, inclusive, productive way to help you get to where you want to be. Taking the first step is brave. Please call or email and schedule an initial meeting. Currently providing in person and virtual therapy in PA, and virtual therapy in IL, RI, and MI.

I see psychotherapy as a collaborative process to help individuals gain a fresh perspective on their lives, recognize repeating patterns in their behaviors and relationships, and find new solutions for old problems. My approach is psychodynamic and eclectic, balancing both depth and real-world focus to address the unique needs of each patient at the intersection of their physical, mental, internal, external, interpersonal, and sociopolitical spheres of experience. I have a particular passion working with individuals who find themselves outside of the narrow band of supposedly “normal” identity and desire, including people who are “kinky”/involved in BDSM, nonmonogamous, polyamorous, in open relationships, queer, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and/or trans* (transitioning or not transitioning). I endeavor to use my concentrated graduate study, post-graduate training, and clinical experience in these areas to provide a warm, open, and supportive space to facilitate self-understanding and growth.

Life can be brutal, can’t it?! Can you remember that time in life when you were happy, like top of the world scream it from the rooftops happy? In that moment, everything was right in your world and then well, life happened. Now you look back and have so many questions…What happened? Let me tell you, you are not alone! We’ve all been there in some season of life. But who says this can’t make us better! Every person comes to therapy with their own individual needs. Therefore, we adapt our interventions based on a comprehensive assessment of who you are and what you need. We are all trained in a number of different interventions and like to use a combination of our training and expertise to utilize an eclectic approach to best meet the needs of each individual person. We know that every individual is uniquely different and therefore each person should have a unique therapy journey based on their own needs.

SAVI Therapy is a team of licensed mental health professionals providing compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals, couples, and families. We treat anxiety. depression, relationship challenges, and life transitions, working closely with referring physicians to ensure coordinated, personalized care.

The Trauma-Informed Campus Collective is a clinical practice serving college students exclusively. Our work focuses on trauma-informed care with students navigating complex family systems, identity development, emotional regulation, and belonging within the college environment.

Hi there! I’m Dawn Meyer, and I’m here to help you navigate whatever life is throwing your way—whether it’s anxiety, depression, trauma, family conflict, or just the everyday stress of college life. I know reaching out for therapy can feel like a big step, but my approach is straightforward and compassionate. We’ll work together to help you manage big stressors or work on issues related to your mental health. Feel free to call, text or email me for more information. I am a fully virtual therapist. Life’s tough sometimes, but you don’t have to face it alone.

My approach is integrative and trauma-informed, drawing from psychodynamic therapy, humanistic therapy, and mindfulness. I have particular experience working with grief, identity exploration, chronic illness, spirituality, LGBTQ health, and women’s health. I also work with clients who feel disconnected from their purpose or who are navigating major shifts in their sense of self. Our work will begin with your story, and from there, we will collaboratively create a plan to address your goals. My aim is to help clients access their own wisdom, find relief from emotional distress, deepen self-awareness, and experience greater self-compassion. In addition to my work as a psychotherapist, I have worked as an interfaith hospital chaplain, supporting patients, families, and staff during moments of intense vulnerability and uncertainty. This experience informs my work, allowing me to hold space for life’s deepest questions and existential concerns. My approach to spirituality is non-prescriptive, honoring each person’s unique beliefs, values, and ways of making meaning.

I specialize in overthinking, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome. Clients who come to me often struggle with feeling “enough.". They often feel an imbalance in their lives and are quick to sacrifice self-care for others or in the face of stress. They feel their emotions strongly and sometimes feel controlled by them, leaving them often emotionally and physically drained. My clients are ready to create change in their lives and feel more peace of mind.

Big life changes have a way of catching you off guard. In one moment, you’ve got things under control and the next time you look up, there is a whole new set of demands. Whether it’s stumbling through the stages of grief, adjusting to a new living situation, caring for someone you love, making a life decision, or just balancing situations you didn’t see coming, you don’t have to manage alone! I offer a safe place to talk through the times when you don’t feel up to the challenge, fear for the future, or long for what once was. Together, we can explore new ways of understanding and find a path forward. In my 20 years of LCSW practice, clients have described my sessions as practical and personal, with a sprinkling of humor (because sometimes laughter helps lighten the load.) Together, we'll uncover how your mind and body are processing the challenges you face and identify specific strategies to help you move through them with more control and confidence. You don’t have to face life changes alone. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, depressed, anxious, or just plain sad, you don’t have to do this by yourself! Schedule a consultation phone call or initial session today and find the support you need to keep moving forward.

Kenna is a licensed clinical professional counselor with over 10 years of experience. She is a nationally certified counselor and independently licensed in Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. She is currently accepting clients virtually only at this time. She specializes in treating anxiety, OCD, and PTSD. I accept several different insurances. You can visit my page below for the most up-to-date list of these insurances and to get started with me.

Therapy is a unique process, one that aims to guide you through challenges and roadblocks, helping you move towards a healthier and more meaningful life. My goal is to create a space where growth is safe and cultivated. Using an evidence-based approach, I work to help you gain awareness of your emotional experience, working to understand the way you experience and interact with the world. I help you explore parts of yourself you may not be completely comfortable with, learning to tolerate the discomfort that surfaces during this process. I challenge clients to try something different, encouraging a more intentional approach. Change can be hard and scary; it takes courage and willingness to say you need help. I see individuals with a wide range of presenting concerns, including anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship concerns, and identity development. I also maintain a strong commitment to cultural humility. Life can throw out some pretty tough things, and while we don't always have a choice in what comes our way, we do have a choice in how we respond. Let's work together to find out how you want to respond to the challenges in your life.

You’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, and you don’t know how to manage everything. You feel like no one understands and it seems as though life keeps getting harder. It seems like you’ve tried everything and nothing is working. Do you often ask yourself what can I do to feel better? Do you find yourself wanting to connect with someone? Everyone deals with a hardship at one point in their lives. During this time it can be difficult to feel heard, understood, supported. I understand that reaching out for the initial session can be difficult, but take the first step, it’s the hardest. I am here to support and guide you in creating positive change. Imagine understanding your triggers, so you have a better understanding of how to manage them. No matter what you’re dealing with or what age you are, I can help you with the difficulties you’re facing. I’ve spent years helping clients learn about themselves and make positive life changes. I offer a safe space for clients to feel comfortable and confident about managing life‘s challenges. I look forward to working together.

No matter what you do, you feel like you are never good enough. You are consumed with thoughts of food and shame about your body. You’ve tried everything to control your eating, but in the end feel like it is food that controls you. If this is you, know that you are not alone and you can find healing. If you are struggling with an eating disorder, disordered eating, or body image, I can help you find acceptance and finally feel at home within your body. We will work together to explore your beliefs about food, your body, and yourself to uncover what’s not working and keeping you from what matters most to you. I provide a warm, compassionate space, (with some humor sprinkled in) in which you can breathe and connect with who you truly are. Through a social justice-informed Health at Every Size framework combined with acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches, we will explore and practice new ways for you to cope with difficult thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Many of the clients I work with struggle with intense self-criticism, perfectionism, and feeling like they are both “too much” and “not enough.” During our initial sessions, we will explore the challenges impacting you most deeply and work together to identify initial goals to help you soften that self-critical voice and build more self-compassion. I also collaborate with clients to identify specific skills to work on between sessions to integrate what you are learning into daily life.

At Connect Clinical Group, PLLC, we provide top-quality therapeutic services to residents of Chicago, Aurora, and all of Illinois. We specialize in a range of mental health issues from depression to anxiety – meeting each client with respect and empathy as they begin their journey toward healing. With our innovative approach combining teletherapy sessions alongside traditional counseling methods, we make sure your unique needs are met every step along the way!

Please visit my profile to learn more about my services.